Gobble Gobble

At long last, here is my Thanksgiving weekend wrap-up...

My favorite holiday began a little differently this year. I was up before 7 am on Thanksgiving morning with Huan, Natty, Skelbs, and CGrumms to run in the annual Turkey Trot 5k in Centreville. Along with about 2500 others, we braved the oncoming storm clouds that suddenly made the sky blacken right before race time. Shortly after being drenched under the downpour (how very hardcore of us), we were en route. It was a nice leisurely run (i.e., I definitely did not run for time), and it was nice to see how far I had come from the days of my 10th grade P.E. final, in which I conquered the seemingly impossible task of running 3 miles under 30 minutes with the help of one of my running mentors, Caroline (CGrumms). We were running buddies again this time, except that I could actually converse with her the whole time, and it was very nice to catch up. You see, in the olden days, I would refuse to respond to or acknowledge any of her stories, not for lack of respect but for lack of breath. I'm not so bad anymore. Post-race, it was time to have a truly guilt-free Thanksgiving gorge fest since we had the exercise out of the way.

Dinner was delicious as always, and there seemed to be more food than ever. This year's highlights: butternut squash soup, delightfully juicy turkey, mashed potatoes (because you can never go wrong), and Huan's pumpkin profiterole dessert, which I devoured even after 3 or 4 plates of food in me.

Friday we finally took Auddie to go see "The Incredibles," which I enjoyed even more the second time around. Great film, definitely right up there with "Finding Nemo." Bravo Pixar, you've done it yet again.

That night Kim wanted to watch her wedding video that my dad had recorded, and I soon found out there are few things more awkward than this activity. The ceremony part and all that were fine, but once we got to the dancing portion of the evening and the camera was still rolling, it was like having to watch yourself at a club or a party. To think, when it's actually happening, you've consumed just the right amount to get yourself out there dancing in the first place, and here you are now watching it again but with sober eyes. Very strange sensation. And then there was watching my speech. I mean, I hate to hear my voice on voicemail, let alone in a lengthy speech with bad jokes and a ridiculous amount of nerves on top of it! I guess this is why I did not ever pursue acting as a career, eh? Definitely don't love that spotlight.

Saturday evening was the bridal shower dinner/drinks event in Georgetown for my cousin Bao Ngoc. It actually ended up being a really great time. It was one of those nights when you have no expectations, and it turns out to be a ton of fun. For the first time since I can actually remember, I was catching up with and really getting to know my cousins with whom I have never been very close. It was a very refreshing moment where I think we kind of saw each other in a different way, and definitely for the better. It's always nice when that happens.

Today was a fun way to end the long weekend. I headed to SportRock in Alexandria with Huan and Tin, a family friend. This place is a massive indoor climbing arena with a ton of walls of different skills that go up to over 40 feet. Huan and I decided it'd be a good idea to start with the Basic Skills class to learn how to harness ourselves up, tie our knots, and master the art of "belaying." There was so much fun terminology to learn. After the remedial stuff, we actually started climbing, and it was so exciting! I, of course, managed to let my thumb pinch in the device during my first real belaying experience, so I have a nice beginner's battle wound to show for my first-time out. Other than that, though, it was really awesome, and I think Huan and I were instantly hooked to this new hobby (if we ever make it outdoors, that will be a different story...). Actually, I'll have to update my thoughts again tomorrow if I am actually able to fully operate my arms and legs. Good times, though. I definitely recommend you give climbing a try.

Now I am snuggling up with some Haagen Dazs Strawberry ice cream as the finale to this very indulgent weekend. Twas a lovely Thanksgiving. Only regrets are that I didn't get to see or hang out with everyone I would have liked. Alas, that is what Christmas is for.

Here's to thankfulness. In brief, this year I am thankful for my family, but not in the cheesy "of course you are thankful for your family" kind of way, but in a truly genuine way, for unconditionally supporting me in this "lost soul" portion of my post-graduate search for some stability. Cheers.


Current Music: Vincent O'Brien, by M. Ward
Current Mood: satisfied

Oprah forever.

Today was that wonderful episode that makes you squeal and love Oprah and hate her and want to be her at the same time. Oprah's favorite things! Oprah had a studio audience full of teachers from around the country who thought they were there for a show on education. They soon found out they had earned the "hottest ticket of the season" for the favorite things show, and everyone proceeded to scream and cry like babies (I'd probably do the same, and so would you).

Then, for the next hour, one box after the next, Oprah would uncover these ridiculous gifts and before she could even talk about what they were, the crowd would start crying and screaming again. While mildly annoying, it was actually pretty awesome. From Burberry scarves to flat screen TVs, to a Maytag Washer/Dryer and a trip to a weekend spa getaway... Oprah sure knows the way into the hearts of Americans. But seriously, aside from all the sweet gifts she gave away to each and every person in the audience, it was pretty awe-inspiring to sit back and watch her in her element. She has so much pull, so much influence, and however you feel about her as a person, it's great to see her as one of the few ridiculously wealthy people (net worth: $1 billion+) out there who is so visible when it comes to her giving and using her status for the well-being of others. For that, Oprah is just badass! (And the companies that participated in her favorite things show are just brilliant, because it's clear anything she touches or talks about basically turns into gold. There's no better marketing than through Oprah herself!)

Ok, out with it, I love Oprah, even if she loves to name-drop and act like she's best friends with every celebrity in the world. It's ok! Because she's really admirable, and she's done some amazing things to change people's lives, whether here or around the world. I remember some time last year, how I was sitting in front of the TV with tears streaming down my cheeks and a bunch of used tissues surrounding me after I watched the show about her South Africa trip. That whole thing was just incredible and very, very inspiring. Go Oprah! Wow, never thought my blog would see the day that I'd openly kiss Oprah's butt in a post. But there I went. Deep down I'm just jealous I didn't get all those fun toys she gave away today, and I hope that she will read this and invite me to her show.


Current Music: Only Got One, by Frou Frou

Back online (phew!)

Oh, to be back online. After a digging mishap in our neighborhood on Friday by some contractor dudes, our Internet and phone line were cut off and not reconnected until late this afternoon. Whoa! It was a mere 4 days, but Internet withdrawal was odd and painful. I, among other family members, found myself antsy and pacing around at various moments of the day that would ordinarily be occupied by standard Internet and computer time. It was bizarre! We reminded ourselves, and I informed Auddie for perhaps the first time, that indeed there was a time when people enjoyed the comforts of home and the company of others without the soothing hum of the computer and the ease of googling at our disposal. In fact, it was only less than a decade ago. As soon as I realized this fact, it was actually nice to act like a "normal" person and figure out what I would do with the time I usually spent on the computer... I finished a book, started another one, got back on the piano, organized all our photo CDs, etc. After the first day, it was like I really was over it, I just needed to check my e-mail every couple days, but other than that I could deal. Of course, now that it's back, I have to update my blog, catch up on my "e-news" and all the rest... So the little addiction begins again.


Current Music: Jolene, by Ray LaMontagne

Only in America

So this is my second food bizarre posting in a row, but this one is too good to pass up. While this is completely old news, I looked at it again today and for some reason it made me happy. Where else can you find people bidding thousands of dollars for a 10-year-old sandwich? What a crazy world we live in. It's amazing! And really, it's even more amazing that there is no mold on that thing. I remember some sandwiches from college that were unrecognizable after a few weeks of being wrapped up under a couch or some other mysterious place (ew, gross memories).

Virgin Mary in Grilled Cheese





Current Music: Useless Desires, by Patty Griffin

Fat Attack

Whoa! And I thought that over this past year, we as a Fast Food Nation were trying to downsize... Guess not! Who is going to eat this? I mean, I'll share it with you... and your friend. Makes my heart kind of tighten up just thinking about it, though.

Hardee's Monster Thickburger




mmm...1420 calories and 107 grams of fat just waiting to be consumed.



Current Music: Better than Most, by A.C. Newman
Current Mood: hungry (not for the Monster burger, though-- Cha Gio instead!)

A few announcements

-First of all, I was just in my car and had to do a double-take as my lovely radio data alert system, which scrolls song & artist, was telling me that I was listening to Nelly and Tim McGraw on "Over and Over." Well, call me out of the loop, but I had no idea! That's something though, huh? I kind of like it... the crossover, that is. Kudos for making more music we will find difficult to simply "label."

-Thank god for Patrick Ramsey getting a chance to start next week for the Skins. It might be too little, too late, but at least we've got something to look forward to, and the hope of more than 6 yards from the QB... (sorry Brunell, but let's face it, you suck)

-The Amazing Race 6 season premiere is tomorrow night at 9 PM. If you have not ever seen this show, start tuning in now. It's the best reality show on TV, and one that has gone (mostly) unnoticed until recently. Hell, I didn't even tune in until Season 4 and I'm a TV junkie! You don't know what you're missing! Trust me, it's a must-watch. At the least, it's better for your brain than "The Swan."

-Rufus Wainwright's "Want Two," his very highly anticipated follow-up to the wonderfully addicting "Want One," will hit your local record stores tomorrow. It comes with a 20-track DVD bonus, so who can resist? I've already heard some tracks off this one, and it's amazing. It combines Rufus's beautifully unique voice and simple songwriting with his quirky and truly brilliant musical side. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up.



Current Music: "his goal in life was to be an echo..." -Hummingbird, by Wilco

Marathon Pics

Sorry for the delay (remember what it was like to actually use film with your camera and actually wait for it to be processed?), but here is a healthy sampling of my photos from the Marathon Weekend in NYC:

Here is the man of the hour, Natty Glasser:




Devoted fans, Kim & Huan, roadside in Queens:




A nice shot of the boys of FDNY in Brooklyn cheering on some runners:




Who doesn't love a true patriot in costume?




Can you imagine doing this for 26.2 miles?




I love the cop's shadow in this shot (Nathaniel is approaching in the very center):




And finally...because who doesn't love some doggies, especially a dachshund?




Current Music: Red Right Ankle, by The Decemberists
Current Mood: distracted

Happy Veteran's Day

I just came back from Orange Hunt's very special (and I believe their first, at least since Auddie's been there) Veteran's Day assembly. My only regret is that I did not bring my camera, because there is nothing like seeing hundreds of K-3 kids singing "America the Beautiful," "This Land is Your Land," and "God Bless the USA" in unison. Too cute!!! Seriously, I don't know how I'll react when it's my own kids doing these types of things. We even had seats good enough to see Max and Mira (the twinsies) joining in. This girl sitting next to Mira was that one hilarious child-- you know, she thinks no one is watching as she sings, and every single word she would sing with this jaw-dropping intensity. Oh, so much to take away from an elementary school assembly. It brought me right back. The way the SCA reps/officers rule the school and get to do important things like introduce the program; the way the kids in band think they are badasses (I mean, they are though, kind of-- at least the drummers) but somehow within 5 years they'll just be geeks; and the way so many of the teachers have not changed a bit since I was in school, yet somehow everything else has changed so much (rock climbing walls in the gymnasium!).

As a tribute on this Veteran's Day, Nov. 11, 2004, below I have published one of my favorite poems written by my grandpa. It's an oldie but always a goodie. Enjoy!


The Wall

It's not the wall of fear of the Kremlin,
It's not the wall of shame of East Berlin.
Neither the 10-thousand-mile Chinese Great Wall
Nor the Wall of Lamentation at all.
A Common black marble wall of fame
Filled with fifty-eight thousand names.
Fifty-eight thousand knights of Democracy,
Fifty-eight thousand fighters against tyranny,
Crossing all over jungles, rice-fields and towns
For the "No-win policy" they had fallen down,
Everyday flowers are offered to the undaunted heroes
Who are remembered even by their foes.
Their names shine in the Capital murk,
Their remains rest in the inner earth.
The sun shines and reflects on their soul,
Immortal and brave, and worshipped by all.


D.C. 1988
The Viet-Nam Memorial

by Ha Binh Trung

Totino's Party Pizza

Tonight's blog is dedicated to the most underrated (not to mention ridiculously affordable) item in the frozen food section. Just make sure you put it directly on the center rack in order to ensure optimal crispness. (Don't forget to clean the oven rack of cheesy/crusty residue after you are done.) In 8-10 minutes you have a satisfying meal. Go ahead, stop into your grocer's freezer and pick one up today.

Marathon Weekend (no pun intended)

...and what a fun weekend it was! Huan and I headed up to NYC on Friday evening, which is to say, I drove him there and he had a nice 4-hour car nap ("some people just aren't cut out for life on the road...").

The purpose of the weekend excursion was to be up there to cheer on Natty in the New York City Marathon on Sunday morning [photos to come]. It turned out to be a little marathon even for us spectators! We basically did, by train, what these 35,000 amazing people were doing by foot. Our first post was in Brooklyn, at mile 7, when everyone still had smiles on their faces and that bounce in their step. We were able to see the lead group of men run by us, running at a pace I would never be able to consider for a single mile (somewhere in the range of 5-minute miles, I'd say? Superhuman, that's all.) As soon as we saw Nathaniel pass us, we had to haul booty back to the train to make it to the next meeting point-- we had designated times to be at the posts, based on his expected pace. It was quite efficient if you could make it work, but if you couldn't, and something didn't fall into place as expected, it could get a little crazy and confusing, not knowing whether you've missed your runner, or whether he's behind or ahead or what! That said, it was totally fun and like a mini amazing race experience-- at one point we were literally sprinting through Queens trying to catch up. Anyway, Nathaniel finished the marathon like a trooper and was definitely our hero of the day!!

So, I got to experience almost all 5 boroughs in one day (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Manhattan..just missed out on the starting line, in Staten Island) and cheer on all these runners. It felt like a nice New York moment. I think I would like to run it myself someday. The thought of it is terrifying, especially after you actually see people do it in person, but that's also what makes me want to do it even more. I think it would be such a great mental and physical challenge! Not to mention totally badass. Besides, I keep reminding myself that Oprah did it when she was 40, so it's totally a possibility! For now, baby steps.. I just registered for the Turkey Trot 5k in Centreville on Thanksgiving Day. Should be a fun to kick off the long Holiday weekend!

Post-Marathon spectating, I hopped in the car, picked up John and we were en route to Philly to catch the Interpol show that evening. After a couple minor navigating issues (we did pass by a "Super Video and Super Water Ice" store... what??) we made it to Philly and enjoyed a delicious Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa) dinner, courtesy of John's friend.

Onto the show...

The Electric Factory is a pretty cool venue. It actually seemed quite a bit larger than the 9:30 club, but with a strange closed-off bar area where they isolate the "wild" drinkers, I suppose. (That's where you could find me and John.)

They didn't let me bring in my bottle of water, which I could deal with, obviously. But then they made me throw away my pen. I said, "It's a PEN!" She said, "I know, but you can come get it after the show, it will be in that box.." (points to nondescript cardboard box with probably 100 pens in it) "..it will probably be near the top, too!" Um, no thanks lady, it's just a pen with the name of some drug on it, I don't want to fish through the box for it, I just want to keep it now. Weird.

John and I suddenly got pumped because we realized we were seeing Interpol in a few moments. The rest of the day had been so hectic trying to bounce around the City for the marathon, meet up and go to Philly, that we'd forgotten what we were doing. The show was good-- my only disappointment was that it seemed quite brief, probably about an hour? That wasn't too bad when we saw them in Richmond two years ago for the bargain price of $7, because at that point they'd only had their one album out so pretty much played that through. But I thought that since they've blown up and prices were jacked up, we'd at least get a longer treat and a few extra songs on the set since they have two albums to work with. But apparently not, so we pretty much got a half and half split between old and new material. But the second encore of "Stella..." was a pleasant surprise and made up for everything. I did realize, though, that the window of being able to see a band and have them play everything you want to hear is so very small! Seeing a band on their first tour, after their first album, is a unique and rare experience. Once it's over you will never be able to hear all those songs performed together live-- you instantly become a selfish and picky concertgoer! "Oh, but I wish they'd played ___!" It's inevitable disappointment over what could have been. Anyway, it was a great time-- a nice ending to a long day.

Missed out on my chance to have a delicious Geno's Cheesesteak while in Philly, though. Must make another trip back soon.

That concludes Marathon Weekend update. Look for Marathon pictures soon.


Current Music: Specialist, by Interpol
Current Mood: lil tired

If you thought the map looked red on Tuesday night...

Look again! County by county...



[for more details, here's the source]

"Welcome to the OC..."

Ah, what an exciting night. Like all the other diehard fans, I'd been counting down the days until tonight's season premiere of the show that renewed my faith in good ol' 90210-style television. Tonight did not disappoint, besides the fact that I had to pause every minute or so to explain to first Auddie, then later (multiple times) to my parents, who all the characters were and how they were connected. It all makes sense if you saw the first season, but when you're getting it all in one dose, it seems pretty crazy if you think about it...

("that brunette [Julie] married this old guy [Caleb], and he's this other woman's dad, and she's [Kirsten] that kid in the green shirt's [Seth] mom, and that kid used to date this girl [Summer], who is best friend's with the really skinny one [Marissa], who used to date the kid from the bad part of town [Ryan], who left the OC to go back to his pregnant girlfriend...")

I didn't even try to start on Luke and his dad! Whoo. Anyway, I love the show, and it's a guilt-free pleasure; I am not embarassed by it nor do I have any shame. I just love it! It's incredibly entertaining, and I love the music. You gotta give Josh Schwartz credit for being able to blend the "underground" or "indie" music scene with this ridiculously popular teenybopper show.

My Thursday night lineup is officially complete! (Quite the social life, eh?)


Current Music: Mr. Brightside, by The Killers
Current Mood: "amped" -- (Laguna Beach/OC language)

Don't mess with the Fortune Teller

It turns out the Redskins failed as an election predictor (guess it should have been a TD after all...), but the fortune tellers were right. I should have known. A couple days ago, my parents told me our personal Vietnamese fortune telling friend (the Thây Boí) was predicting Bush would win the election. Huan and I got a little upset and tried to ignore this fact, but it was always in the back of my mind. Could they be right? How do they really know? Do I believe them? I guess all was answered today. If I ever questioned their credibility, they redeemed themselves with this call. Am I starting to sound crazy? I used to think my parents were crazy, but now they've reeled me in.

On a related note, my dad showed me this article today. It should be particularly interesting to those of you who are lost right now, or are picturing Whoopi Goldberg in "Ghost" when I mention a fortune teller. This is the type of conversation you could hear around my house regarding the election-- and they're dead serious about it. Half the time, I actually believe it. Now, I'm even more convinced.

What Now?

The reality has hit me, and I'm pretty bummed out right now. After I woke up and saw that it was all official and Kerry had conceded to Bush, I was overwhelmed with a great sense of disappointment. As a Democrat and Kerry voter, you just sit and wonder- what could have been done differently? And why? The difficulty is trying to control your emotions and understand that more than half the voting public thought differently than you did, and in our democracy, Bush won fair and square. I applaud Kerry for conceding this morning and admitting that he didn't want this to go down the way Florida did in '00. But you have to commend Bush for his campaign; I think everyone on both sides was surprised at how it played out (or perhaps not, and those of us who were on the Kerry side were just clouded by our desperation), and in these final weeks we may have underestimated our President.

I understand why the sentiment now is that we all should unite and move on from this, because that is what our country needs most. But let's be honest- those of us who have believed in our candidate and the vision he had for America will have a difficult time dropping this and pressing on. When you believe so strongly in something and a given set of ideals--political, social, whatever-- it's so easy to say "What is wrong with everyone??" and have difficulty accepting the other side when your explanations seem so clear and rational. Even in the midst of war and all the other indictments against Bush, the fact that he ran away with a victory is telling. The Democratic party just was not strong enough. Even those who were so adamant about a change in the White House still were not completely comfortable with our candidate, and I think this was the overriding factor yesterday. The Republicans effectively played on the values of America (albeit "values" I mostly disagree with), and truth be told, that works for most of the voting public.

I was sad watching Kerry give his concession speech. I was with my mom at the World Bank cafeteria, and I was trying not to get emotional in a public place-- that would have been a weak showing for a defeated citizen! But, it was definitely a quiet and moving moment, and Kerry handled it well, still showing optimism and believing we have to continue to fight for the American people. Then on my drive home from DC around 3 PM I drove by the Reagan building and saw all the cop cars and motorcycles and droves of Bush/Cheney supporters looking so gleeful. That was also kind of moving.. in a different way, of course.

Last comments: The whole "I'm moving to Canada" thing following an election result is getting kind of played out. (Why always Canada? If you're going to say it, be bold! Go to Australia, or how about India!) I didn't see anyone go to Canada in '00, and my guess is, no one is really going to pack their bags this time. (I'm not calling anyone a sissy- challenge me, and if you want to move, by all means, do it!) It's not the end of the world. And at the end of the day, the U.S. is still a great country and I am still proud to be an American. (That doesn't mean I can't be bummed for a few days about a big election, though.) Now it's time for Bush to put on his game face because he has been given a mandate (buzzword #2) by the people who voted for his re-election, and he's definitely got something to prove. For now, "4 more years" til we can do this again, and I just can't wait to see who the Dems will have lined up. No predictions yet ;)


Current music: Politik, by Coldplay
(after all, there is a song for every story and mood)
Current mood: bummed out

Keeping the Faith

So I've moved from freak out mode, to mellow mode, past depressed mode, and now I'm in a very calm state. Ok, so my chest is constricting a bit, but that comes and goes. However, I have not lost all faith. I still believe in Ohio... there all those "provisional votes" (buzzword of the night) that are still outstanding (Why do they have to wait 11 days to count them? Why? Why not 22 days then? Or 1. Or 2?). We are definitely playing from behind, but at this point I have nothing left to do but hold onto my last ounce of hope!

One thing that seems clear is that this thing is going to drag on well past tonight (this morning). I hate for it to get ugly with all the lawsuits and courts, but I suppose that much is inevitable at this point.

Ok. Closing the book on tonight with Bush ahead 249-211, and a 100,000 vote margin separating the candidates in Ohio. I still believe!

Edit: Ok, it's almost 3 AM and I can't seem to turn off the TV. The electoral vote is now Bush 249 - Kerry 242 (could it be any closer?). But the latest shows Bush with a growing margin in Ohio, and those smug folk are practically celebrating at the White House. It's weird to think that's happening only a few blocks from where I am right now. Good ol' Kerry won't go down 'til the fat lady sings, though. Good for him. May the last vote be counted.

Ohio, Ohio, Ohio!

We need Ohio. Desperately.

Some people are still waiting in line to vote! Some people waited for 10+ hours! I thought my wait was bad. I should have moved to Ohio to vote there. Well, maybe not.

Hard to think this time 4 years ago I was sitting in my little dorm room with flourescent lighting, pretending to study for my History of Jazz exam (which I ultimately did not do well on), watching the returns on my little 12" TV, and finally going to bed thinking Bush had won decisively, before all the drama that followed.

I'm kind of mellowing out now, past the freak-out mode, just waiting for the final call.

Come on Ohioans, I'm counting on you!

Too Early To Call

Right now the vote difference between candidates in New Hampshire is 147. Holy cow! Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio are still too close to call, and we know they aren't going to say anything until they're damn sure. Not to mention all those absentee ballots that still have be registered... this could be a long little process.

I'm getting a bit nervous. I don't want to jinx anything, and I know it's not over til it's over, but you can't help but get that sinking feeling as you watch the Red show up on the map over and over again.

I'm at Huan's place and we're enjoying his delicious chili again. And some chips and peach salsa. And Halloween candy. I'm voting for a switch to Laguna Beach to ease some of this tension. The Daily Show Special at 10 definitely provided some much-needed laughs.

One thing I'm very excited about is that I got Auddie engaged in the process. We explained the Electoral College to her as best we could, and she had her Mini Page special about the Election to guide her. Last night we each printed out blank U.S. Maps and labeled them, and tonight she and I were following along and coloring the map as they announced them (It's kind of fun! Great excuse to get back into crayons). She would call me every now and then to make sure she got all of them, which was really cute. It's nice to feel like you have a role in teaching and raising your little sis and getting her interested in something important at a young age.

This IM exchange was particularly cute:

auddie5001: kerry's losing big time
auddie5001: come on
auddie5001: :(

Well, cute if you overlook the fact that she, too, had noticed the large Red blobs taking over the awesome ice rink U.S. Map up in Rockefeller Center.

Again, we'll have to wait for those key "battleground" states to roll in...

I still have faith!

Proud to be an American

I just saw this on my run around the neighborhood and I had to go back and snap a photo. I usually bypass these kind of signs pretty quickly, but today it made me feel proud and happy!
The firemen were nice and turned on the sign light for me because by the time I made my way back to take a picture, it was starting to get dark out. Nice guys.




For now, still watching the TV, getting antsy, waiting for word on anything new, knowing it won't come for at least a few more hours... Tom Brokaw has just informed me that "Patience is the word tonight." Thanks, Tom.


JayTwoThe: yeah, it's all fun n games til the map is red!

I Voted!

I just returned from my first in-person voting experience. It was quite exciting, actually! (Definitely more thrilling than filling out an absentee ballot!) I could have waited until the middle of the day to go when it was much less crowded, but I wanted to do it with my mom and Huan, so I got up around 7 AM to go with them. We arrived at Sangster Elementary at about 8, and by the time we had queued into the first line, then another line, then finally voted, it was about 9:20! The place was a bit disorganized and some people were complaining about it, but I just went with the flow. It was worth whatever waiting we had to do because we should be thankful we have the chance to vote! I even wore my Democracy for Vietnam shirt to remind myself of this. Auddie got to stand behind me as I cast my electric vote on the fun little machine. She even got her own I Voted sticker-- lucky kid!

For some reason the A-K line was nonexistent, while the L-Z line was out the door and continuing to grow. This made some people mad. It was a little strange, for sure. Huan and I kept talking about voter intimidation and how many people might be turned away from polls because of the minor obstacles that present themselves.

Anyhow, now that I've done my part, I'll be tuning in later today for full coverage of the election. Hopefully it won't keep us up too late... though I have a feeling it may be a long while before we know the final results!

VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE

Vote!

Google, you are too cool for words, so we'll let the logo do the talking as it always does so well:

Election Day Eve

We are less than an hour away from Election Day 2004, an event we have been anticipating for what seems like forever. After all the debates, arguments, newscasts, polls, name-calling, and so on... we can all breathe a sigh of relief because the day has finally arrived. We can quit our bickering, throw out our theories and predictions, and simply watch it all unfold (hopefully avoiding any Florida '00 scenarios). I'm getting antsy/excited/nervous, like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. The sense of adrenaline that this is giving me is something I cannot describe. Updates will follow as the day goes on...

Don't forget to vote tomorrow. I know I won't!